Killiecrankie wrote:Basically Jordan Staal is going to be a better overall hockey player than Marian Gaborik. That being said, Gaborik is the best winger for Crosby in the entire NHL with his speed, hands, and hockey sense. Staal should not and will not be moved for Gaborik.

I also do not believe that Gaborik will recieve 8+ million on the market next year, I believe the pens MAY be able to get him long term for say 7ish. We shall see, I would not be surprised to see him in the black and gold, what with around 15+ million coming off the books and Malkin and Staals increase in cap hit will only be about 7ish million.

staal's offensive game will never even approach gaborik. gaborik is one of the top 10 offensive talents in the league, if not top 5. staal's defensive abilities don't even come close to covering that offensive disparity and making him a "better overall player".

with that said. i really like staal. and he will fit under the cap next year. gaborik won't. no deal.

To the person who said Staal is or will be a better overall player, how do you figure???

Also, Gaborik is 26...Staal is 20...Unless Staal puts up 83 points at 26, he will not be a better player than Gaborik

Not to mention the 5-goal game?

The argument that makes more sense is that Staal will be a better player for the salary he makes. Gaborik doesn't fit into the team's salary structure. That right there should pretty much be enough to be the reason why he never sees the black and gold.

Staal is a better overall player NOW than Gaborik is. Gaborik is a one trick pony, a pure goal scorer. Those are valuable, but Staal can do ANYTHING well and does certain things extremely well. Offense, defense, special teams, Staal does it all. Staal wins you championships. Gaborik is nothing but a very very good secondary player.

Stats do not tell you anything, I would love to have a player with the versatility of Jordan Staal on my team and Minnesota would jump for joy at a Staal for Gaborik proposal from the pens.

Killiecrankie wrote:Staal is a better overall player NOW than Gaborik is.

staal has like 24 assists in 160 games. stats don't tell the whole story, but this stat trumps all circumstantial bias. he's simply not developed enough on offense yet.

it's not even close right now. and it's not like gaborik is a slouch in his own end either.

I understand that, but his value to the penguins during their playoff run was greater than the value of a Gaborik. Did you watch Minnesota in the playoffs? Gaborik would score 50 goals with Sid easy, but Staal has the ability to put up 30 with Malkin AND do other.

Killiecrankie wrote:Staal is a better overall player NOW than Gaborik is. Gaborik is a one trick pony, a pure goal scorer. Those are valuable, but Staal can do ANYTHING well and does certain things extremely well. Offense, defense, special teams, Staal does it all. Staal wins you championships. Gaborik is nothing but a very very good secondary player.

Stats do not tell you anything, I would love to have a player with the versatility of Jordan Staal on my team and Minnesota would jump for joy at a Staal for Gaborik proposal from the pens.

No. Minnesota would not trade Gaborik for Staal straight up. Unless they were a 100% certain he wouldn't resign with them or something like that.

Killiecrankie wrote:Staal is a better overall player NOW than Gaborik is.

staal has like 24 assists in 160 games. stats don't tell the whole story, but this stat trumps all circumstantial bias. he's simply not developed enough on offense yet.

it's not even close right now. and it's not like gaborik is a slouch in his own end either.

I understand that, but his value to the penguins during their playoff run was greater than the value of a Gaborik. Did you watch Minnesota in the playoffs? Gaborik would score 50 goals with Sid easy, but Staal has the ability to put up 30 with Malkin AND do other.

just because staal fit better for us in the playoffs more than gaborik would (which isn't even true but whatev) doesn't mean he's better. ability wise, gaborik kills him (right now).

Staal is more valuable to the Pens than Gaborik ever could be. Add in the fact that the best is still to come with Staal...

i'm sorry. gaborik had 83 points last year. staal had 28.

i like staal and i don't really care about having gaborik on the team, but the notion that right now staal would be more valuable to the pens than gaborik is just too crazy to ignore.

this is the '07 staal vs. malkin thread all over again.

Who wouldn't like to see what Gaborik could do playing with Crosby and Malkin...that is a no brainer...

however my statement was valuable to the Pens. Not in a scoring debate.

The Pens already have adequate scoring. Staal is more valuable to the Pens due to his PK skills, his back checking, face offs, his reach (ever notice how that reach drives players with the puck insane? ) Now if he can put his offensive game or atleast keep his game going from the post season...now you have a 70 point guy that plays a complete game. I can see that being a reality if he gets #1 PP time. 20 years old!

Staal is more valuable to the Pens than Gaborik ever could be. Add in the fact that the best is still to come with Staal...

i'm sorry. gaborik had 83 points last year. staal had 28.

i like staal and i don't really care about having gaborik on the team, but the notion that right now staal would be more valuable to the pens than gaborik is just too crazy to ignore.

this is the '07 staal vs. malkin thread all over again.

Who wouldn't like to see what Gaborik could do playing with Crosby and Malkin...that is a no brainer...

however my statement was valuable to the Pens. Not in a scoring debate.

The Pens already have adequate scoring. Staal is more valuable to the Pens due to his PK skills, his back checking, face offs, his reach (ever notice how that reach drives players with the puck insane? ) Now if he can put his offensive game or atleast keep his game going from the post season...now you have a 70 point guy that plays a complete game. I can see that being a reality if he gets #1 PP time. 20 years old!

I'll take #11 thanks

I don't think Staal is quite a 70 point guy. He may be up there because of Malkin, but with players who are one of the best in the world, he's nowhere near 70 points.

Staal is more valuable to the Pens than Gaborik ever could be. Add in the fact that the best is still to come with Staal...

i'm sorry. gaborik had 83 points last year. staal had 28.

i like staal and i don't really care about having gaborik on the team, but the notion that right now staal would be more valuable to the pens than gaborik is just too crazy to ignore.

this is the '07 staal vs. malkin thread all over again.

Who wouldn't like to see what Gaborik could do playing with Crosby and Malkin...that is a no brainer...

however my statement was valuable to the Pens. Not in a scoring debate.

The Pens already have adequate scoring. Staal is more valuable to the Pens due to his PK skills, his back checking, face offs, his reach (ever notice how that reach drives players with the puck insane? ) Now if he can put his offensive game or atleast keep his game going from the post season...now you have a 70 point guy that plays a complete game. I can see that being a reality if he gets #1 PP time. 20 years old!

I'll take #11 thanks

i see the reason behind your point, i just think that there is such a large offensive disparity between the 2 that staal's defense wouldn't make up for it.

having gaborik would be like having hossa. and hossa was much more valuable than staal in the playoffs.